Clarke To Make Iran Accord Decision Today
Flatbush Congresswoman Yvette Clarke is expected to make public late this afternoon on how she will vote regarding the proposed Iran accord, according to sources.
Under the proposed agreement, the United States along with Russia, China, France, England and Germany will end economic sanctions that were imposed on Iran in return for that country not developing nuclear weapons for at least 10 years. Also under the accord are questionable verification measures to assure Iran keeps up with their end of the bargain.
The accord has polarized many Brooklyn voters, and in particular Jewish voters. Some who oppose the accord have ramped up the rhetoric with extremist views likening anyone that supports the agreement as traitors to Israel and their fellow Jews. Conversely, some groups that support the accord, have made remarks that those that oppose it are anti-American and traitors to this country.
Others, such as City Councilman David Greenfield and U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, who are against the deal, and Congressman Jerrold Nadler, who is for it, based their decision on what they feel are its merits without such blatant attacks on those that don’t believe as they do.
Both opponents and proponents of the Iran agreement have been lobbying Clarke and Central Brooklyn Congressman Hakeem Jeffries hard on the issue. Unless two-thirds of Congress votes against the accord, President Obama can over ride a congressional veto.
Parker Gives Hundreds Of School Bags Away
Close to a thousand families gathered Saturday to kick-off the new school year at Senator Kevin Parker’s Annual Harvest Fest 2015 Back to School Celebration in East Flatbush’s Paerdegat Park on Farragut Road and Albany Avenue.
“We’ve had a great number of responses from numerous groups who wanted to participate and donate,” said Parker, whose office organized the event. “For several years, dozens of families from across Brooklyn have come together to celebrate Brooklyn’s Harvest Fest because it is a great way to commemorate the coming of fall and the new school year.”
“This has always been such a wonderful way to start the new school year,” said Curtis Nelson, Executive Director of Sesame Flyers International, also a sponsor and host of the annual event. “We want to give a special thank you to Senator Parker, a champion of education, and partner who assisted in ensuring today’s annual event was a big success.”
Other sponsors included The Gap, Inc., Time Warner Cable, Madison Square Boys & Girls Club, Healthfirst, YMCA, the Brooklyn Public Library and one of the oldest Greek-letter organizations, Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Regina-Potter Gets On Another Line
Republican nominee for the 46th Assembly District seat Lucretia Regina-Potter, announced over the weekend, that she successfully petitioned to have her name appear on the independent People’s Choice line as well in the expected November election to fill the seat left vacant with the resignation of Alec Brook-Krasny.
Thus far, Regina-Potter is the only candidate running in the Special Elections throughout the entire city of New York to successfully create an independent ballot line.
The securing of this independent line was a great accomplishment for Regina-Potter and her campaign team who were able to collect thousands of valid and verifiable signatures from the registered voters throughout the 46th Assembly District.
Deutsch Succeeds With Traffic Calming Measure
Sheepshead Bay City Councilman Chaim Deutsch announced that traffic calming measures are coming to improve safety and traffic conditions at Coney Island Avenue and Guider Avenue, a heavily trafficked and sometimes dangerous intersection.
“Since I was elected, upgrading this intersection has been a major priority for me. Nearly two years ago, I contacted the Traffic Department to have two safety agents stationed at that intersection. Since then, they have been there nearly every day to minimize accidents and congestion,” said Deutsch.
Deutsch said with the support of Community Board 13 Chair Butch Moran, Community Board 15 Chair Theresa Scavo, as well as local activists Pastor Josue Ayala, Bobby Asad, and Maurice Kolodin, the city’s Department of Transportation proposed plan has finally been approved.
The plan will begin implementation next month, and the changes will impact pedestrian safety, motorist safety, and the traffic flow. For further information call 718-368-9176.
Brooklyn Donates For Dominica
A Dominica Flag hung outside the Friends of Crown Heights Education Center yesterday as the consulate of Dominica organized food and clothing drive for those affected by Hurricane Erika, which wrecked havoc on the island nation just two days ago, killing at least 20 people and destroying much of Dominica’s infrastructure.
Dominica Consul General Barbara Dailey welcomed the generosity of Brooklynites and mentioned that “this is the first in a series of events aimed at gathering much needed supplies to those affected by Hurricane Erika”
St Lucia Consul General Julian Du Bois was also in attendance. “It is important for all the islands to help out,” Dubois commented, noting that St Lucia was hit by a hurricane in 2010. “ People must understand no matter how much they help, and help is widely appreciated, people will need more, so please keep on giving”
In a prior statement promoting the event, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke stated, “In this time of crisis, the international community has a moral obligation and responsibility to provide all necessary assistance to the people of Dominica”
The Dominican Consulate will organize further food and clothing drives in the rest of the city and New Jersey, and plans a concert back in Brooklyn in October. For the latest information on the status of relief and recovery efforts in Dominica, please contact the Clarke district office at (718) 287-1142.
